For a second straight week, a member of the Saskatoon Blades has received a weekly salute from the W-H-L for his excellent performance over the previous seven days.

Twenty-year-old Nolan Maier is the Goaltender-of-the-Week after the Yorkton product stopped 37 shots and was first star in Friday’s 5-2 Bridge City Bunch victory in Regina. Maier followed that up Sunday at SaskTel Centre, stopping 27 shots as the Blue and Gold downed the Pats 4-1 to complete a home-and-home sweep in the Big City Saskatchewan rivalry. Last week, Saskatoon centre Tristen Robins was the W-H-L Player-of-the-Week. The Blades are home to Moose Jaw Wednesday while the Prince Albert Raiders face Brandon Friday at the Art Hauser Centre to open a weekend home-and-home series. The latest W-H-L Player-of-the-Week is Edmonton forward Jalen Luypen. Following is the news release from the W-H-L…..

BLACKHAWKS PROSPECT LUYPEN NAMED WHL PLAYER OF THE WEEK

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE / MONDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2021

Calgary, Alta. – The Western Hockey League announced today that Edmonton Oil Kings forward Jalen Luypen has been named WHL Player of the Week for the week ending October 24, 2021.

Luypen, a prospect of the Chicago Blackhawks, recorded seven points (2G-5A) in two games this past week as the Oil Kings posted home-ice victories against the Brandon Wheat Kings and Medicine Hat Tigers.

On Friday, October 22, the 19-year-old put up four points (2G-2A) against the Wheat Kings, scoring twice in the opening 5:18 of the first period including a short-handed marker at 3:38 of the opening frame. The product of Kelowna, B.C. assisted on two further Edmonton goals, and was named the game’s first star.

The next evening, Luypen added three assists, including on the game-winning goal by Arizona Coyotes prospect Dylan Guenther as the Oil Kings slipped past the Tigers 5-4.

The 5-foot-10, 157-pound forward also won 15 of his 18 face-off attempts in the win over Medicine Hat.

Luypen was selected by the Blackhawks in the seventh round (216th overall) of the 2021 NHL Draft.

He was originally selected by the Oil Kings in the ninth round of the 2017 WHL Draft. In 142 career WHL regular season appearances, all with Edmonton, Luypen has amassed 68 points (35G-33A). He currently sits tied for the Oil Kings scoring lead with eight points (3G-5A) during the 2021-22 WHL campaign.

Luypen and the Oil Kings next hit the ice Friday, October 29 when they play host to the Winnipeg ICE (7:00 p.m. MT, Rogers Place).

BLADES NETMINDER MAIER NAMED WHL GOALTENDER OF THE WEEK

The Western Hockey League announced today that Saskatoon Blades netminder Nolan Maier has been named WHL Goaltender of the Week for the week ending October 24, 2021.

Maier, a 20-year-old product of Yorkton, Sask., posted back-to-back wins for the Blades against the Regina Pats, recording a 1.50 goals-against average and 0.955 save percentage over 120 minutes of action.

On Friday, October 22, Maier turned aside 37 shots, helping the Blades to a 5-2 victory on the road in Regina. He was named the game’s first star.

Two nights later, the 6-foot-0, 172-pound netminder stopped 27 of 28 shots in a 4-1 triumph over the Pats, earning second star honours in the process.

Maier was originally selected by the Saskatoon Blades in the second round (25th overall) of the 2016 WHL Draft, and since that time has proceeded to set Saskatoon’s franchise mark in victories with 96. In 163 career WHL regular season games, all with the Blades, Maier holds a 96-50-10-5 record to go along with a 2.90 goals-against average, 0.904 save percentage, and 10 shutouts.

The Blades next hit the ice Wednesday, October 27 when they play host to the Moose Jaw Warriors (7:00 p.m. MT, SaskTel Centre).